Lindsey Holt and Coley Arnold are sitting in a modern concrete-and-glass office space near Scottsdale Airport, eating salads on vintage chairs pulled up to a cool handmade wooden dining table. They’ve just returned from a week in San Diego, where they annexed and hosted their popular Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market one weekend (they’ll return to San Diego June 15-16, 2017).
These women — who met at a church group for newly marrieds and bonded over their love of vintage — had a crazy idea in 2011 to host a one-day vintage sale at a friend’s barn in Scottsdale. Holt was making barnwood signs, Coley was refinishing furniture, and they wanted to shop vintage, too, preferring handmade and one-of-a-kind to mass-produced. They invited a couple dozen vendors they’d met on Craigslist and Etsy, and the turnout was so great (more than 600) they had to look for a bigger venue.
Fast forward five years to their modern office and twice-yearly Junk in the Trunk mega events at the giant WestWorld of Scottsdale. Holt, 33, of Scottsdale, and Arnold, 32, of Phoenix’s Arcadia neighborhood, draw more than 25,000 shoppers during a three-day weekend, complete with live music, food trucks and festive atmosphere. About 200 teenage helpers from local Young Life chapters put shoppers’ finds in a holding area and host a drive-through pick-up service. The market boasts 200 vendors — most are small family businesses — from several states.
To say Junk in the Trunk impacted their lives is an understatement. The women each juggle three young kids with what’s become a full-time job for both. Holt’s husband, Kevin, left an accounting and financial planning job to be their business manager, and their 7-year-old son, Gavin, can’t wait to start a business of his own. These women have plenty more ideas on the horizon.
“We love it, so it doesn’t feel like a job most of the time,” Arnold says.
IF YOU GO: Friday-Sunday, Sept. 16-18. 5-9 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. $8 each day Saturday-Sunday; $20-$25 early 8 a.m. entry Saturday (includes shopping bag and Saturday-Sunday admission); $50-$65 Friday (includes a drink, canvas bag, “Vote for Junk” hat and all-weekend entry). $5 parking. WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road. junkinthetrunkvintagemarket.com.
7 more vintage markets this fall in metro Phoenix
Old Brick House Vintage Market
Sept. 8-10; Oct. 13-15; Nov. 10-12
202 W. Main St., Mesa.
Sweet Salvage
Sept. 15-18; Oct. 20-23; Nov. 17-20
4648 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix
sweetsalvage.net
Front Porch Pickins
Sept. 23-24 at Tucson Convention Center
Nov. 4-5 at University of Phoenix Stadium
frontporchpickins.com
Thieves Market
Oct. 1 and Nov. 5
Big Surf Waterpark, Tempe
thievesmarketvintageflea.com
Vintage and Vino
Oct. 14-15
20464 E. Riggs Road, Queen Creek
vintageandvinoaz.com
The Big Heap
Nov. 18-20
3841 N. School House Road, Cave Creek
thebigheap.com
Phoenix Flea
Nov. 26
Heritage Square, Phoenix
phx-flea.com
